Participatory Guarantee Systems

Background: For a couple of years development of organic agriculture uses what it calls Participatory Guarantee Systems (PGS) in order to control and certify the production of organic foodstuff. They are based on self-control by producers in combination with stakeholders to production. These groups also negotiate the terms of certification on a case-by-case basis. Certificates are not recognized within the EU, but they usually concern local value chains in developing countries. Particularly from the perspective of collective action and self-organization these modes of catering for organic production are of great interest.

Aims of research: The research is supposed to systematically map and raise data about different kinds of PGS. Further institutional factors leading to success or failure of PGS are to be identified as much as the potentials to upscale their relevance. What are the potentials of PGS?